High-Performance Amorphous Thermoplastic

PEI (Polyetherimide, ULTEM™ 1000 type)

PEI is an amorphous high-performance plastic with high strength and stiffness, a high glass transition temperature, and inherent flame resistance. ULTEM is SABIC’s brand name for PEI resins. Request a quote or browse all materials.

Typical Properties

PEI (Ultem) at a glance

Property	Typical value
Density	~1.27 g/cm³
Tensile strength	~105–110 MPa
Tensile modulus	~3.2–3.6 GPa
Elongation at break	~60%
Glass transition	~215–217 °C
Heat deflection (1.8 MPa)	~195–200 °C
Flammability	Inherently flame resistant; UL 94 rating depends on grade and thickness
Color	Natural translucent amber

Typical unfilled grade values; glass-filled grades (e.g. 2300 series) are stiffer. These are typical reference values from standard published data, not guaranteed minimums. Request material certificates in your RFQ if properties must be verified.

Advantages

Why engineers choose PEI (Ultem)

Heat resistance

High continuous use temperature for an amorphous plastic.

Strength

High strength and stiffness.

Flame and smoke

Low smoke generation and inherent flame resistance.

Dimensional stability

Low creep and stable dimensions.

Design considerations: Higher cost; notch sensitive; attacked by some chlorinated solvents; amber color limits cosmetic use.

Applications

Common uses

Electrical connectors and insulatorsTest sockets and fixturesAircraft-interior style componentsSteam-sterilized device parts (grade dependent)High-temperature housings

Processes and Finishes